As a musician and guitarist, it is extremely important to experience and appreciate all styles of music that relate to an instrument. You do not need to love what you are listening to, but you should have an understanding of what is going on in the various styles; if you choose to ignore other styles, you'll only limit your own growth and versatility.
Django Reinhardt. The Gypsy Jazz guitarist that revolutionized and influenced numerous individuals. His harmonic musical understanding and his amazing repertoire of chops, arguably makes him one of the greatest guitarists/musicians of the 20th century. And, after cutting his first recordings in 1928, he managed to do this all with only two fingers on his fretting-hand - can you imagine?
Gypsy Jazz is a complex style of rhythm and lead. Barre chords need not apply! Gypsy Jazz chords typically require two or three fingers to create major and minor 6ths, as opposed to major/minor 5ths. The rhythm used with these chords, follows an up-down, down pattern; similar to some non-jazz styles. The lead parts combine chromatic scales with arpeggios - a style that borders Classical music. Of course, the main ingredient to Gypsy Jazz is swing. The style moves, it swings, it's fast and it'll get you going.
Step up to the plate, check out Django Reinhardt if you've never listened to him before. Or re-listen if it's been a while. You may like it, you may hate it, but at least you know that his music existed. After all, his legacy has mostly likely played a role in shaping/influencing the modern musicians that you love so dearly today.
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